A DESPERATE teen mum who is battling a brain tumour is demanding answers after being housed in an “uninhabitable” council flat with her baby.

Natalie Wilson, 19, told the News she is living in a “nightmare” and wants to know why South Lanarkshire Council claimed they had spent almost £2000 decorating the property when it’s clearly “unliveable.”

The fast food worker and her five-month-old son, Connor, moved into the two-bedroom top-floor flat at Kirkton Place from a local scatter flat, and was disgusted by the state of the place.

Despite the council claiming to have carried out a “sparkle clean” and repairs totalling up to £2000, the walls are covered with nicotine-stained wallpaper, the ceiling is flaking, and a foul stench still lingers six weeks on.

Natalie said she is worried for the welfare of her baby who is suffering from cold draughts coming through large cracks in the walls.

The former Duncanrig pupil, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October, experiences constant headaches and has developed a bad cough which she says have been aggravated by the poor conditions.

Natalie has had to call out the environmental health agency, have the place fumigated, and her health visitor has also expressed concern for the family’s health and safety.

Natalie said: “They (the council) said they cleaned, painted and decorated the flat, but the conditions are making me ill and my baby’s hands are freezing at night because of all the draughts coming through.

“It’s stopping Connor’s development, too. We’re having to live in the main bedroom so he can only play on my bed and his cot.

“The council aren’t interested and think it’s liveable, but would they let their kids live here? I didn’t want to end up in a mother-and-baby unit so I had to take it but I’m finding it hard to call this home.

“I want to know where they spent the money or who has claimed it, because the work has clearly not been done.”

Natalie’s mum Carol says all her calls to the council have fallen on deaf ears.

The 42-year-old ultra-sound technician, of West Mains, lodged an official complaint against a South Lanarkshire Council housing inspector who visited the property on Thursday.

She claims he accused her and her daughter of lying, and suggested they stripped the walls themselves.

Carol alleges that the job was never signed off and is demanding action.

She described their treatment from the council as “shocking.”

“Saying they fully decorated this place is totally ridiculous”, she said. A team of us spent two weeks cleaning and painting and the flat is still disgusting.

“Now we’re being called liars and told because time has lapsed the council can’t do anything.

“This has been a harrowing experience for Natalie. Her baby’s development is being hindered, but if she didn’t take this flat she would have been out on the street.

“I want to know where this money has gone.”

A spokesman for the council said: “We can confirm that decoration of several rooms in this property was undertaken during the void stage in order that it met the council’s letting standard.

“After Ms Wilson took up her tenancy a further inspection took place and the local inspector confirmed that decoration works had been undertaken as part of the void works, although he did note that Ms Wilson was in the process of re-decorating these rooms.

“After a property has been let, the responsibility for decoration lies with the tenants.

“The council also refutes the tenant’s allegations regarding the way she was dealt with by the local inspector and also the claim in relation to draughts coming through cracks in the walls.”